Improving the Dyeability of Polypropylene Fibers Using Nanoclay and Plasma Treatment

Abstract

In this study, polypropylene (PP) and polypropylene/nanoclay composite multifilament yarns with different nanoclay contents were prepared by melt spinning. The knitted fabrics were then made from these yarns and subjected to oxygen plasma treatment for 5 min. The samples were dyed with a disperse dye and an acid dye and the color strength, color coordinates, and fastness properties of the dyed samples were compared. The effect of plasma treatment on the surface chemistry and morphology of the samples was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses, respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed the introduction of oxygen-containing groups on the surface of the plasma-treated samples. AFM images confirmed etching of the fibers, and the surface roughness of the fibers increased significantly after plasma treatment. The incorporation of nanoclay in the multifilament yarns improved the dyeability of the polypropylene/nanoclay composite fibers with disperse and acid dyes. The optimum amount of the nanoclay for obtaining the highest color strength was 2 wt% and 1 wt%, for dyeing with the disperse and acid dye, respectively. Plasma treatment enhanced the dyeability and fastness properties of the fibers. The highest K/S values obtained on plasma-treated PP/nanoclay samples were 1.27 and 10.88 for acid and disperse dyes, respectively. The fastness properties of the samples dyed with the acid dye were generally lower than those of dyed with the disperse dye. The highest washing, dry rubbing, and light fastness properties were obtained on plasma-treated and disperse-dyed PP/nanoclay (2 %) sample, which were 4–5, 3, and 5, respectively.